So. Who's sick of cookies? Besides me. I was okay until just about...yesterday. A furious week of creaming, gradually adding, and rounded-teaspoons-full has me all cookied out. Not to mention there was homemade candy, cake, and even a pie created in my kitchen this week. My mouth is now furiously rejecting any sweet that tries to make its way near it. You know what the sad thing about that is? I'm all cookied out on cookies that won't even make an appearance at our holiday table this year. Bus drivers...teachers...neighbors...enjoy. Sadly, I still have so many cookies and bars and candy "marked" and eagerly anticipating an appearance. We'll see how I feel after a sugar free weekend. These cookies came about after I saw Kim make some Apricot & Nut cookies w/ Amaretto icing. Tasty! She thought they'd be good using cranberries, and well...so did I! So, I changed them up a bit, also going with pepitas instead of pinenuts...red and green, you see. And I left off the icing. I loved them. Chewy and studded with sweet tart fruit and toasty, nutty things. Even if the thought of them now is making my mouth all metallic and watery. They were totally awesome before I was cookied out.
Cranberry, Pepita, & Almond Cookies
yield ~2 dozen
½ c. unsalted butter, room temp.
½ c. + 2 Tbs. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
good grating nutmeg
big pinch fine sea salt
1 large egg
1¼ c. ap flour
½ c. dried cranberries
¼ c. sliced almonds, toasted
2 Tbs. pepitas, toasted
Beat butter and sugar until light and creamy, ~2 mins. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Combine flour and salt. Toss a tablespoon or so in with the fruit and nuts and toss around. Gradually add the rest of the mixture to the wet mixture. Fold in the cranberries, pepitas, and almonds.
Turn mixture out onto a sheet of parchment paper and form into a log. Twist ends together and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, but up to a couple of days.
Preheat oven to 350° F. Line baking sheets w/ parchment (or foil or a silpat), cut the dough into ¼" slices and place at least an inch and a half or so apart on the lined sheets. Bake for ~15 minutes, or until they just start to turn golden around the edges.
½ c. + 2 Tbs. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
good grating nutmeg
big pinch fine sea salt
1 large egg
1¼ c. ap flour
½ c. dried cranberries
¼ c. sliced almonds, toasted
2 Tbs. pepitas, toasted
Beat butter and sugar until light and creamy, ~2 mins. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Combine flour and salt. Toss a tablespoon or so in with the fruit and nuts and toss around. Gradually add the rest of the mixture to the wet mixture. Fold in the cranberries, pepitas, and almonds.
Turn mixture out onto a sheet of parchment paper and form into a log. Twist ends together and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, but up to a couple of days.
If you wanted to, you could ice these...but I really loved the beautiful simplicity of them just as they were.
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So pretty! Great idea to use the pepitos!
ReplyDeleteLOVE the use of pepitos! These look gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteFantastica la idea me encanta.
ReplyDeleteSaludos
Hey Heather~
ReplyDeleteThese look festive and different from the usual Christmas cookies I've seen on line! I love Giada's recipes!
Have a great weekend! :)
wow, those look sooooo cute, beautiful and delicious,
ReplyDeletethose look simply droolworthy,so delicious darling...
ReplyDeleteGoodness, this looks like such a wonderful combination!
ReplyDeletewhat, no lemon zest?;) these look delicious and so beautiful for the holidays. i am ready to put my mixer up for the season, but have about 3 more days of baking left. if i could just get as sick of eating them as i do of baking them!
ReplyDeletemerry, merry!
christy
Festive! I love slice & bake cookies. I'm a little sick of cookies, too, and I still have a ton to make...
ReplyDeletehey they look sooooo awesome--- lovely !
ReplyDeleteI have not even started! Man o mano, yours are sure pretty.
ReplyDeleteOh yum! I love cranberries in anything! Except sauce. Ick. Definitely want to try these!
ReplyDeleteI love the peppering of red and green in these cookies, they are prefect for Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI THOUGHT about starting my cookie baking this week...but then my waistline and some sense got the best of me. Because in reality I would have eaten all of them before the big day anyway. I love this flavor combo and the pretty colors!
ReplyDeleteNEVER sick of cookies and these look great!! Happy holidays doll!!!
ReplyDeleteI love how you changed these up with the cranberries and pepitas! I would totally grub on some of these, even though I'm all cookied out too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the shout out!
looks awesome! no wonder u wanted this even after being cookied out with cookies..
ReplyDeleteLove how these look with the red and green--so festive and pretty. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThese sure are a fantastic treat for this festive season!!
ReplyDeleteCranberries and almonds are two very good things!
ReplyDeleteThese cookies look gorgeous. I've not even started any holiday baking so at this point would cram one of these in my mouth quicker than you could say pepita.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely combination of flavors. I think I may have to work out a gluten-free version of these for the family that isn't yet sick of sweetness this holiday season.
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Hi Heather, Thanks for joining in at Vegetarian Foodie Fridays this week! Your cookies look great - what sets them apart from all the other regular cookies is their uniqueness. Great flavour combination!
ReplyDeleteVery pretty........I love the colors and cranberries...but I am getting tired of cookies. Wonder if I'm losing my sweet tooth. Now that could be a mixed blessing.
ReplyDeleteOh how pretty! I love cookies that you slice off a roll. So much easier than rolling out a sheet and cutting them.
ReplyDeleteOMG Heather, if I even look at another cookie around my house I'm going to scream, lol! I'm with you. Totally cookied (and candied, etc.) out. I'm done! Having said that your cookies look delicious - not too sweet. And they're so colourful, perfect for Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI haven't baked a single cookie for the holidays this year. I thought I might make some chocolate salami or some shortbread but decided against those too. I know I will not be deproved over the holidays.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous combination, so festive! I'm cookied out and haven't even cookied yet :) bad sign, I know!
ReplyDeleteRed and green, how clever. And the tastes here are interesting without going overboard. I've seen too many everything-but-the-kitchen-sink with frosting and sprinkles on top cookie recipes lately.
ReplyDeleteSerendipity! I just bought some pepitos and now I know how I will use them. So festive and easy!
ReplyDeleteThese cookies are just amazing!
ReplyDeleteThese look and sound fantastic. We love pepitas so I'm sure these are a winner!
ReplyDeleteCranberries are my new favorite.
ReplyDeleteSuch a great blend of dried fruit and nuts.
ReplyDelete